Emporia, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Emporia is an independent city
located within the confines of Greensville County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was estimated to be 5,927 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes. It is the county seat
of Greensville County
.
The Town of Hicksford (also sometimes called Hick's Ford) was settled in 1710 in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River
en route to Fort Christanna
. After statehood, the Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form the new incorporated town
of Emporia, which was named after the town of Emporia, Kansas
. The Town Emporia was re-chartered by the Virginia General Assembly
as an independent city in 1967.
Emporia has long been a transportation crossroads. Currently, a major north-south railroad line of CSX Transportation
crosses with an east-west line of Norfolk Southern. U.S. Route 58
crosses east-west and Interstate 95
and U.S. Route 301
crosses north-south.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.00%) is water. I-95
and US-58 are the major roads passing through the city, and the city is located about 65 miles south of Richmond
, about 80 miles west of Norfolk
, and about 60 miles north of Rocky Mount
, North Carolina
. The City of Emporia is very close to Gaston, North Carolina. And is a great place to merge on to I-95 North or South.
The City of Emporia also has the high school, Greensville County High School, Southside Virginia Community College, and Saint Paul's College located in Lawrenceville, Virginia.
of 2000, there were 5,665 people, 2,226 households, and 1,406 families residing in the city. The population density
was 821.9 people per square mile (317.5/km²). There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of 349.9 per square mile (135.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.45% White, 56.15% Black or African American
, 0.07% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,226 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples
living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $35,743. Males had a median income of $27,772 versus $21,657 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,377. About 11.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Festival is held each second Wednesday in June.
and U.S Highway 58 around Emporia are well-documented speed traps.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
located within the confines of Greensville County
Greensville County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 3,765 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was estimated to be 5,927 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides important economic statistics including the gross domestic product of the United States. Its stated mission is to "promote a better understanding of the U.S...
combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Greensville County
Greensville County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 3,765 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
.
The Town of Hicksford (also sometimes called Hick's Ford) was settled in 1710 in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River
Meherrin River
The Meherrin River is a long river in the U.S. states of Virginia and North Carolina. It begins in central Virginia, about northwest of Emporia, and flows roughly east-southeast into North Carolina, where it joins the larger Chowan River....
en route to Fort Christanna
Fort Christanna
Fort Christanna was one of the projects of Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood, who was governor of the Virginia Colony 1710-1722. The fort was designed to offer protection and schooling to the tributary Siouan and Iroquoian tribes, living to the southwest of the colonized area of Virginia...
. After statehood, the Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form the new incorporated town
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
of Emporia, which was named after the town of Emporia, Kansas
Emporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
. The Town Emporia was re-chartered by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
as an independent city in 1967.
Emporia has long been a transportation crossroads. Currently, a major north-south railroad line of CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
crosses with an east-west line of Norfolk Southern. U.S. Route 58
U.S. Route 58
U.S. Route 58 is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only inside the commonwealth of Virginia...
crosses east-west and Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
and U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 301 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It currently runs 1,099 miles from Glasgow, Delaware at U.S. Route 40 to Sarasota, Florida. It passes through the states of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida...
crosses north-south.
Geography
Emporia is located at 36°41′34"N 77°32′17"W (36.693018, -77.53809).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 7 square miles (18.1 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.00%) is water. I-95
Interstate 95 in Virginia
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Interstate 95 runs through the state. It runs concurrently for with Interstate 64 in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of Interstate 85 in Petersburg. Though Interstate 95 was originally planned to go straight through Washington, D.C., it was instead...
and US-58 are the major roads passing through the city, and the city is located about 65 miles south of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, about 80 miles west of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, and about 60 miles north of Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount is the name of:*Rocky Mount, Alabama*Rocky Mount, Georgia*Rocky Mount, Missouri*Rocky Mount, North Carolina**Rocky Mount **Rocky Mount Athletic Complex**Rocky Mount High School**Rocky Mount Instruments...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The City of Emporia is very close to Gaston, North Carolina. And is a great place to merge on to I-95 North or South.
The City of Emporia also has the high school, Greensville County High School, Southside Virginia Community College, and Saint Paul's College located in Lawrenceville, Virginia.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,665 people, 2,226 households, and 1,406 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 821.9 people per square mile (317.5/km²). There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of 349.9 per square mile (135.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.45% White, 56.15% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,226 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $35,743. Males had a median income of $27,772 versus $21,657 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,377. About 11.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Festivals
The Emporia Bicycling Club hosts regular group rides, including the annual Great Peanut ride which attracts hundreds of bicyclists who ride to visit a peanut farm and are treated to hearty meals and live entertainment at camp. The Virginia PorkPork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
Festival is held each second Wednesday in June.
Crime
In 2005 and 2006 the town ranked no. 2 in crime in Virginia based on incidents per 100,000 population, in the state's annual report "Crime in Virginia 2006" (source: www.vancnews.com). Interstate 95Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
and U.S Highway 58 around Emporia are well-documented speed traps.
Notable residents
- Willie GillusWillie GillusWillie Harden Gillus in Emporia, Virginia , is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League. He is a former college head football coach and is currently an assistant college football coach....
, former NFL quarterback - Maurice HicksMaurice HicksMaurice Hicks is an American football running back for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was originally signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, NFL running back who is a current free agentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise.... - Wynne LeGrowWynne LeGrowWynne LeGrow is a retired nephrologist from Emporia, Virginia and was the Democratic nominee for Congress in Virginia's 4th congressional district in 2010. He ran against incumbent Republican Congressman Randy Forbes.-Personal life:...
, Democratic politician - Theresa MerrittTheresa MerrittTheresa Merritt Hines was an American stage, film and television actress and singer.-Career:Born in Emporia, Virginia, Merritt appeared in many theatrical productions but gained fame later in life when she starred in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and The Wiz Theresa Merritt Hines (September 24,...
, actress - Hermie SadlerHermie SadlerHerman Marion Sadler III is an American race car driver/announcer and professional wrestling promoter from Emporia, Virginia. He is also an advocate for autism research, as his daughter Hailie Dru, was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001...
and Elliott SadlerElliott SadlerElliott William Barnes Sadler is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #2 OneMain Financial Chevrolet Impala for Kevin Harvick Inc. in the Nationwide Series. He is one of only 23 drivers to have won in each of NASCAR's top three series...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
racecar drivers - Raynor ScheineRaynor ScheineRaynor Scheine is an American actor who has appeared in films for three decades dating back to 1979, including My Cousin Vinny and Fried Green Tomatoes. His name is a play on the phrase "rain or shine".-Broadway performances:...
, actor - E.J. Wilson, NFL defensive lineman for Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Emporia, Virginia